A number of claims regarding the former footballer’s attitude led to the termination of his contract with the BBC, according to reports that surfaced on Thursday.
After being fired from his position at the BBC, Jermaine Jenas has taken responsibility for sending “inappropriate messages” to female employees.
Before his contract with the BBC was terminated due to allegations regarding his behaviour, the former football player worked as a pundit on Match of the Day and was also a co-host on The One Show.
However, Jenas admitted to “cheating” on his wife during an interview with The Sun on Friday. Jenas emphasised that “nothing physical ever happened” during the interview.
As he stated, “I am not proud of what I have written or what I have said.” This is entirely my responsibility, and I am fully aware that being a member of the BBC comes with a certain degree of responsibility that needs to be upheld at all times.
“I did nothing illegal,” Jenas claimed, arguing that the texts were sent to “two consenting adults.” “With one, she made it clear that she was interested,” he said.
The 41-year-old married father of four offered an apology to his family, friends, and workplace. He told me: “I have let myself down, my family, friends, and colleagues, and I owe everyone an apology, especially the women with whom I was messaging.” I’m appalled and sorry.
He went on to explain, “I believe it would be accurate to say that I have a problem.” I am conscious that I am a self-destructive person who has a tendency to undermine myself, particularly in my relationships, and that I need help. And I am receiving aid.
I’m asking myself a lot of questions right now because I’ve made so many mistakes. As far as I am aware, there is a lot of work that needs to be done, and it will be difficult.
Five days after the initial HR consultation regarding his actions, according to Jenas, the BBC fired him on Monday. He also admitted to lying to his wife, Ellie, in order to “find a way out of this mess.”.
He continued to express his dissatisfaction with how the broadcaster handled his dismissal, claiming he was fired over a video chat while on a family vacation with Ellie and their three children.
“You’re having to sit there and listen to what you’ve said,” he told me. “I am not proud of anything.
“It’s embarrassing, and obviously there’s four people there on a Zoom call, basically just listening to all of this and reading out my messages.”
He said, “I have only myself to blame,” and said, “I’m the married one; I’m at fault, and I was sort of playing this blame game in my head.”
In addition, the former footballer for Newcastle and Tottenham stated to The Sun that he had visited his physician prior to the allegations that were made against him and that he had begun therapy “to try and address these issues, where they stem from, and why I have been doing this.”
On the other hand, he asserted that it “was not the case” that he provided any sexual photographs or films, and he stated, “I feel people don’t know the truth and are forming opinions about me that aren’t accurate.”
While Jenas was in the process of beginning a three-hour drive-time programme on talkSPORT radio with fellow former player Jermaine Pennant, the news of his dismissal broke.
When a talkSPORT reporter interviewed him on Thursday, he said, “I can’t really talk about it too much. My dissatisfaction with it is probably obvious to you at this point. However, given the current circumstances, I will have no choice but to delegate the matter to the legal team.
“There’s two sides. That’s all I can say now.”
Midway through the month of July, Jenas was the host of The One Show, and she was last seen on Match of the Day in the month of May.
In 2022/23, Jenas earned between £190,000 and £194,999 for his work at the BBC on the FA Cup, Match of the Day, and the World Cup. In addition, TNT Sports employs Jenas.
Both TalkSPORT and TNT stated on Thursday that they had taken the allegations seriously and had no immediate plans to work with Jenas in the near future.